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Santiago Leon and Dan Madden recap the 2024 #NFLWildcard Weekend
Contributors
Santiago Leon – @sleon
Dan Madden – @danimal2478
Browns at Texans
The Houston Texans defeated the Cleveland Browns 45–14 in an AFC wild-card game on January 14, 2024. The Texans scored 35 points unanswered after trailing in the second quarter. C.J. Stroud, the Texans’ quarterback, threw for 274 yards and three touchdowns in the game, becoming the youngest quarterback to win a playoff game. Steven Nelson and Christian Harris each had a pick-6 in the game.
- The Texans open with a 21-yard field goal from Ka’imi Fairbairn
- The Browns respond with a one-yard touchdown pass by Kareem Hunt
- Stroud throws for 236 passing yards in the first half, setting a new rookie playoff record
- The Texans return two interceptions by Joe Flacco for scores
- Derek Barnett drops Flacco for a sack, giving the Texans a loss of eight yards
The rookie became the youngest quarterback to win a playoff game after throwing for 274 yards and three touchdowns, and the Houston Texans returned two interceptions by Joe Flacco for scores in a 45-14 rout of the Cleveland Browns in a wild-card matchup Saturday.
Stroud threw for 236 yards and three touchdowns before halftime as the Texans built a 24-14 lead. The defense took over after that, with Steven Nelson and Christian Harris returning interceptions for touchdowns on consecutive drives in the third quarter to extend the lead to 38-14.
With the Texans up 45-14 with nine minutes to go, Stroud’s work was done, and he was replaced by Davis Mills.
Browns QB Joe Flacco, who turns 39 on Tuesday, came off the couch to go 4-1 as a starter to end the regular season. He led the Browns (11-7) to just their third playoff appearance since their 1999 expansion rebirth, but second in four seasons under coach Kevin Stefanski.
Flacco finished with 307 yards and had a touchdown pass in the first half, but his mistakes under pressure in the third quarter were too much for the Browns to overcome on a day when Stroud easily outshined him in his playoff debut.
Kareem Hunt ran for a touchdown and had a TD reception in the first half, but had just 26 yards rushing.
The Browns took a 7-3 lead on Hunt’s 1-yard run with about two minutes left in the first quarter.
Dolphins at Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Miami Dolphins 26-7.
The game took place in freezing conditions, with temperatures as low as -4° Fahrenheit and gusts up to 27 mph.
Isiah Pacheco: Runs 89 yards and scores for the Chiefs
Harrison Butker: Kicks four field goals, including a Chiefs postseason record.
The Chiefs’ defense: Dominates the game.
The Chiefs’ offense: Scores a touchdown on the opening drive and takes advantage of three consecutive punts by the Dolphins.
Patrick Mahomes threw for 262 yards, found Rashee Rice eight times for 130 yards and a touchdown, and made several daring runs for key first downs. Isiah Pacheco pounded over the frozen turf for 89 yards and another score. And the Chiefs shut down a prolific Miami offense in a 26-7 victory in the wild-card round of the playoffs.
Harrison Butker added four field goals for the reigning Super Bowl champs, who appear to be warming up for another run.
Meanwhile, the injury-depleted Dolphins (11-7) looked nothing like the same dynamic offense that led the league in yards. Tua Tagovailoa was pressured relentlessly by the NFL’s second-ranked defense, wide receiver Tyreek Hill had a 53-yard TD catch but was otherwise shut down in his return to Kansas City and the Dolphins finished with 264 yards in all.
The Dolphins otherwise struggled on offense, though, just as they did in a 21-14 loss to the Chiefs in November in Germany. They were just 1 for 12 on third down, and they never put together a truly sustained drive until the fourth quarter.
The Dolphins never threatened down the stretch in their 11th straight loss when game-time temps are 40 degrees or less.
Packers at Cowboys
The Green Bay Packers beat the Dallas Cowboys 48-32. The Packers’ quarterback, Jordan Love, threw three touchdown passes and had a 157.2 passer rating in his first playoff game. Other highlights include.
- Aaron Jones runs for three touchdowns
- Darnell Savage returns an interception 64 yards for a score
- The Packers’ defense forces a turnover on downs with less than a minute left in the game
The Packers’ offense jumps on the Cowboys early and builds an insurmountable lead. The Packers score touchdowns on five-straight series until pulling their starters out of the game in the fourth quarter.
Aaron Jones ran for three touchdowns, Jordan Love threw for three more in his postseason debut, Darnell Savage returned an interception 64 yards for a score and the Packers handed the Cowboys their first home loss since the 2022 opener in a 48-32 wild-card stunner Sunday.
Dak Prescott threw two interceptions before three mostly empty touchdown passes in another playoff flop for him and the No. 2 seed Cowboys (12-6).
The first home loss for the Cowboys since now-retired Tom Brady and Tampa Bay beat them 16 months ago was also the most points the franchise has allowed in a postseason game. The previous high was 38.
The loss will raise questions about the future of Dallas coach Mike McCarthy after the Cowboys lost their playoff opener at home for the second time in three postseasons under the former Green Bay coach.
Romeo Doubs had a career-high 151 yards receiving a week after being hospitalized with a chest injury as the Packers rolled after finishing the regular season 6-2 to grab the NFC’s final playoff spot.
First-half catches of 22, 26 and 39 yards helped get Love going, and the fourth-year QB finished 16 of 21 for 272 yards as the Packers scored touchdowns on six of their first seven offensive possessions in their highest-scoring game since 2014.
Jones rushed for 118 yards, putting him over the century mark in all four career games against the Cowboys with nine touchdowns.
Prescott finished 41 of 60 for 403 yards, with all three of his touchdowns to tight end Jake Ferguson.
Rams at Lions
The Detroit Lions beat the Los Angeles Rams 24-23 in a Wild Card playoff game on January 14, 2024. The Lions’ strong offensive first half and defensive second half helped them win the game.
- In the fourth quarter, the Rams scored a field goal to cut the lead to 24-23.
- The Lions’ defense forced a punt with four minutes remaining in the game.
- The Lions’ offense ran out the last four minutes and seven seconds to secure the win.
- The Lions’ defense made a defensive stop at their own 44-yard line on the Rams’ final possession with just over four minutes left.
- David Montgomery picked up one first down with an 11-yard scamper on the second play for a first down.
- Goff threw for a touchdown and completed a pass for a victory-sealing first down.
Goff threw for a touchdown and completed a pass for a victory-sealing first down against the team that cast him away, and the Detroit Lions won a playoff game for the first time in 32 years, beating Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams 24-23 on Sunday night.
Predictions
Steelers at Bills
DM: BUF
Eagles at Bucs
DM: TB